Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues, Sixteenth Edition, is a debate-style reader designed to introduce students to controversies in politics. The readings, which represent the arguments of leading political scientists, lawmakers, and political commentators, reflect opposing positions and have been selected for their liveliness and substance and because of their value in a debate framework.

Author Bio

McKenna received his Ph.D. at Fordham University. He has taught for 30 years at The City College of New York. He is the coeditor of two books in our Dushkin Taking Sides series: Taking Sides on social issues and on political issues. He has led local civic and environmental groups in New York and New Jersey.

Unit 1 Democracy and the American Political Process Issue 1. Should Americans Believe in a Unique American 0;Mission1;? YES:Wilfred M. McClay, from 0;The Founding of Nations,1; First Things (March 2006) NO:Howard Zinn, from 0;The Power and the Glory: Myths of American Exceptionalism,1; Boston Review (Summer 2005) Humanities professor Wilfred M. McClay argues that America's 0;myth,1; its founding narrative, helps to sustain and hold together a diverse people. Historian Howard Zinn is convinced that America's myth of 0;exceptionalism1; has served as a justification for lawlessness, brutality, and imperialism. Issue 2. Is Democracy the Answer to Global Terrorism? YES:George W. Bush, from Speech at National Defense University, (March 8, 2005) NO:F. Gregory Gause III, from 0;Can Democracy Stop Terrorism?1; Foreign Affairs (September/October 2005) President George W. Bush argues that the best antidote to terrorism is the tolerance and hope generated by democracy. Political scientist Gregory Gause contends that there is no relationship between terrorism emanating from a country and the extent to which democracy is enjoyed by its citizens. Issue 3. Should America Adopt Public Financing of Political Campaigns? YES:Mark Green, from Selling Out: How Big Corporate Money Buys Elec tions, Rams Through Legislation, and Betrays Our Democracy (Regan Books, 2002) NO:John Samples, from 0;Taxpayer Financing of Campaigns,1; in John Samples, ed., Welfare for Politicians? Taxpayer Financing of Cam paigns (CATO Institute, 2005) Political activist and author Mark Green sums up his thesis in the subtitle of his book, a work that urges adoption of public financing of election campaigns in order to make politics more honest and to reduce the dependency of elected officials on selfish interests. Cato Institute director and political scientist John Samples opposes public financing of candidates for public office because it does not achieve any of the goals of its advocates and it forces voters to underwrite the financing of candidates they do not support. Unit 2 The Institution of Government Issue 4. Does the President Have Unilateral War Powers? YES:John C. Yoo, from Memorandum Opinion for the Deputy Counsel to the President (September 25, 2001) NO:Michael Cairo, from 0;The 6;Imperial Presidency' Triumphant,1; in Christopher S. Kelley, ed., Executing the Constitution (SUNY, 2006) John C. Yoo, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, argues that the language of the Constitution, long-accepted precedents, and the practical need for speedy action in emergencies all support broad executive power during war. Michael Cairo, lecturer in International Relations at Southern Illinois University, deplores the unilateral military actions undertaken by Presidents Clinton and Bush; he argues that the Founders never intended to grant exclusive war powers to the president. Issue 5. Should the Courts Seek the 0;Original Meaning1; of the Constitution? YES:Antonin Scalia, from Remarks at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (March 14, 2005) NO:Stephen Breyer, from Active

Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues, Sixteenth Edition, is a debate-style reader designed to introduce students to controversies in politics. The readings, which represent the arguments of leading political scientists, lawmakers, and political commentators, reflect opposing positions and have been selected for their liveliness and substance and because of their value in a debate framework.

Author Bio

McKenna received his Ph.D. at Fordham University. He has taught for 30 years at The City College of New York. He is the coeditor of two books in our Dushkin Taking Sides series: Taking Sides on social issues and on political issues. He has led local civic and environmental groups in New York and New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Unit 1 Democracy and the American Political Process Issue 1. Should Americans Believe in a Unique American 0;Mission1;? YES:Wilfred M. McClay, from 0;The Founding of Nations,1; First Things (March 2006) NO:Howard Zinn, from 0;The Power and the Glory: Myths of American Exceptionalism,1; Boston Review (Summer 2005) Humanities professor Wilfred M. McClay argues that America's 0;myth,1; its founding narrative, helps to sustain and hold together a diverse people. Historian Howard Zinn is convinced that America's myth of 0;exceptionalism1; has served as a justification for lawlessness, brutality, and imperialism. Issue 2. Is Democracy the Answer to Global Terrorism? YES:George W. Bush, from Speech at National Defense University, (March 8, 2005) NO:F. Gregory Gause III, from 0;Can Democracy Stop Terrorism?1; Foreign Affairs (September/October 2005) President George W. Bush argues that the best antidote to terrorism is the tolerance and hope generated by democracy. Political scientist Gregory Gause contends that there is no relationship between terrorism emanating from a country and the extent to which democracy is enjoyed by its citizens. Issue 3. Should America Adopt Public Financing of Political Campaigns? YES:Mark Green, from Selling Out: How Big Corporate Money Buys Elec tions, Rams Through Legislation, and Betrays Our Democracy (Regan Books, 2002) NO:John Samples, from 0;Taxpayer Financing of Campaigns,1; in John Samples, ed., Welfare for Politicians? Taxpayer Financing of Cam paigns (CATO Institute, 2005) Political activist and author Mark Green sums up his thesis in the subtitle of his book, a work that urges adoption of public financing of election campaigns in order to make politics more honest and to reduce the dependency of elected officials on selfish interests. Cato Institute director and political scientist John Samples opposes public financing of candidates for public office because it does not achieve any of the goals of its advocates and it forces voters to underwrite the financing of candidates they do not support. Unit 2 The Institution of Government Issue 4. Does the President Have Unilateral War Powers? YES:John C. Yoo, from Memorandum Opinion for the Deputy Counsel to the President (September 25, 2001) NO:Michael Cairo, from 0;The 6;Imperial Presidency' Triumphant,1; in Christopher S. Kelley, ed., Executing the Constitution (SUNY, 2006) John C. Yoo, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, argues that the language of the Constitution, long-accepted precedents, and the practical need for speedy action in emergencies all support broad executive power during war. Michael Cairo, lecturer in International Relations at Southern Illinois University, deplores the unilateral military actions undertaken by Presidents Clinton and Bush; he argues that the Founders never intended to grant exclusive war powers to the president. Issue 5. Should the Courts Seek the 0;Original Meaning1; of the Constitution? YES:Antonin Scalia, from Remarks at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (March 14, 2005) NO:Stephen Breyer, from Active